The Struggle to Save Pubs in the UK
Over the past year, 259 pubs have closed across the UK, with 53 of them being converted into houses or HMOs and another 13 demolished for new housing developments. This alarming trend has been highlighted by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), a consumer organization that warns that these pubs are being lost forever.
According to the British Beer and Pub Association, the closures last year alone resulted in an estimated 4,500 job losses. The main reason behind this decline is the immense cost pressures faced by pub owners. One such pub that fell victim to this trend was The Ivy Inn in Heddington, Wiltshire, which was put up for sale in May 2024. The news sent shockwaves through the local community.
Gemma Coombes, a 43-year-old resident who has lived in the village her entire life, recalls visiting The Ivy Inn with her grandmother as a child. “We loved it. It was busy, friendly and so welcoming. I remember having an Appletiser while playing billiards. There was an atmosphere where everyone knew who you were. It was lovely.”
The closure of the pub was a heavy blow for the locals. “It doesn’t just hold memories for us, it was a place people would travel to if they wanted a nice carvery or to sit in front of an open fire,” she said.
In response to the closure, Heddington residents formed a group called Friends of The Ivy in September 2024. Originally a communication channel between the pub and the community, this group transformed into an official community benefit society (CBS), a not-for-profit entity that aims to invest in local businesses like pubs, shops, or football clubs.
Chair of the society, Paul Moyle-Harris, explained that £350,000 was needed to buy the pub itself, but raising around £600,000 would allow the community to refurbish and modernize the building, especially areas like the toilets and kitchen, which were not up to modern standards.
To fund the project, residents could purchase shares in the pub for £1 each, with a minimum of 100 shares required to join the CBS. Raising the funds came with its challenges, including the difficulty of opening a bank account due to the unique structure of a CBS. However, the effort has paid off, with £410,000 raised so far, securing the future of The Ivy Inn as a pub rather than turning it into housing. Solicitors are currently in talks to exchange contracts for the building.
Over £250,000 of the money has come from nearby villagers, involving around 520 people. “One chap in the village bought £20,000 worth of shares. He’s in his thirties with a young family but believes in this. We’ve had a lot of younger people buying between £200 and £500, but everyone has been involved. The working families, the youngsters, and the retired all contributed.”
Moyle-Harris remembers when a Sunday dinner at The Ivy Inn required booking six weeks in advance. “It was so popular that people would travel regularly from places like Chippenham and Bristol. It had a fantastic reputation and so much history. General Patton visited during the war. It’s really scary that we could have lost that history.”
The plan is to use the building as a community space, running it as a cafe during the day and a pub in the evening. “There’s nowhere for anybody to go at the moment,” said Coombes. “There’s a weekly coffee morning in the church that’s really busy, but there’s no toilet or proper tea and coffee facilities. The school uses the village hall most of the time. There’s not anywhere for parents to meet. When I go out with friends, we have to drive 10 miles to a restaurant, but we’d be at The Ivy Inn if it was open.”
“We’re lucky to live in such a beautiful place, but the pub is the missing link. It’s not about getting drunk; it’s about having somewhere to relax and have a chat. I have four children and I’d love for them to experience it the way I did when I was a little girl.”
Moyle-Harris predicts that The Ivy Inn will reopen in 2026, though he acknowledges that the fundraising is still not enough to fully modernize the 17th-century building. “It’ll be a lot of work, and although there are nearly 100 local volunteers for painting and gardening, the work won’t be quick.”
Another example of a community saving a pub is The Drewe Arms in Drewsteignton, Devon. The pub was on the verge of disappearing until the community raised money to save it. It reopened last March after sitting empty for nearly two years.
Ian Pickford, the Society Secretary of Drewsteignton Community Society, described the closure as a real dampener for the village. Imogen Clements, who has lived in the village for 16 years, said, “It immediately became a ghost village.”
“We live in an age where you work from home, study from home, shop from home, and can entertain from home, so there aren’t many reasons to actually go out. We felt that first hand. We didn’t have a reason to come together as a community, it was a depressive period. In cities, there are pub alternatives, but for us, it’s the only one within walking distance.”
The Drewe Arms was known for its long-serving landlady, Mabel Mudge, who worked behind the bar for 75 years. She stepped down in 1994 at the age of 99 before passing away two years later. The pub dates back to 1756, and Mudge kept it open through wars, never closing it. “The idea that the pub had fallen victim to commercial forces was horrifying for the community,” said Clements.
Mudge’s family still lives in the village, and others have fond memories of her. “People show off their photo albums of their parents or uncles working for Mabel, or talk about the picket fences they put up or the animals that used to be in local barns. Mabel used to bring ham and cheese sandwiches to people’s doorsteps, and a big pint of ale. There’s so many stories about her.”
Clements moved to the village from London when she had her first child and was part of the fundraising team to reopen the pub, which was a huge success. Almost £600,000 was raised, which Pickford believes is one of the highest figures for a community benefit society. Many donors were locals, but a significant amount also came from people who had visited The Drewe Arms on their travels. Contributions also came from people in Australia, Spain, Italy, and America, who loved the history of the pub and wanted to see it reopen.
The community has since changed how The Drewe Arms functions, giving each room a specific purpose. Throughout the week, they hold yoga and Pilates classes, coffee mornings, open mic nights, and invite new bands on the weekends.
“We’re so pleased we managed to buy the pub on behalf of the community because we all worried someone else would turn it into a gastro restaurant, for example, and not respect the heritage. We didn’t want a moneymaking operation that would strip its character or turn it into thatched cottages. We’ve managed to maintain its history but also run it as a business that suits everyone. We’re really proud of it.”